Recommended Readings in Literature:
Kindergarten Through Grade Eight
Property of California Department of Education
Copyright 1986, Published 1986
Bible, The (selections). Grade(s): 7-8
Greek Mythology (selections). Grade(s): 7-8
Norse Mythology (selections). Grade(s): 7-8
Scenes from Shakespeare (anthology). Grade(s): 7-8
Aardema, Verna. Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. Grade(s): 1-4
Aardema, Verna. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears. Grade(s): 1-4
Aardema, Verna (Reteller). Riddle of the Drum, The. Grade(s): 2-4
Aardema, Verna (Reteller). Who's in Rabbit's House? Grade(s): 2-5
Aaseng, Nathan. Winners Never Quit. Grade(s): 3-6
Ada, Alma Flor, and Maria del Pilar de Olave. Aserrín, aserrán. Grade(s): K-3
Adams, Adrienne. Poetry of Earth and Sky. Grade(s): 4-8
Adams, Edward B. (Editor). Two Brothers and Their Magic Gourds. Grade(s): 2-8
Adoff, Arnold. All the Colors of the Race. Grade(s): 4-6
Adoff, Arnold. Black Is Brown Is Tan. Grade(s): 5-6
Adoff, Arnold. Black Out Loud. Grade(s): 5-6
Adoff, Arnold. Malcolm X. Grade(s): 5-8
Adoff, Arnold. Outside-Inside Poems. Grade(s): 1-3
Adoff, Arnold. Sports Pages. Grade(s): 3-6
Aesop. Aesop's Fables. Grade(s): 2-6
Agree, Rose. How to Eat a Poem and Other Morsels. Grade(s): 3-6
Aiken, Conrad. Cats and Bats and Things with Wings. Grade(s): 3-6
Alcantara Sgarb, Ricardo. Guaragu. Grade(s): 4-6
Alcock, Vivien. Travelers by Night. Grade(s): 7-8
Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women. Grade(s): 7-8
Aldis, Dorothy. All Together. Grade(s): K-4
Aldis, Dorothy. Nothing Is Impossible: The Story of Beatrix Potter. Grade(s): 3-6
Alexander, Lloyd. Taran Wanderer. Grade(s): 6-8
Alexander, Lloyd. Wizard in the Tree, The. Grade(s): 5-6
Alexander, Martha. Bobo's Dream. Grade(s): K-2
Alexander, Sue. Small Plays for Special Days. Grade(s): K-6
Aliki. Corn Is Maize. Grade(s): 3-6
Aliki. Digging Up Dinosaurs. Grade(s): 1-3
Aliki. Many Lives of Benjamin Franklin, The. Grade(s): 1-3
Aliki. Story of Johnny Appleseed, The. Grade(s): 2-4
Aliki. Weed Is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver, A. Grade(s): 2-4
Allard, Harry, and James Marshall. Miss Nelson Is Missing. Grade(s): 2-5
Alter, Judith M. Luke and the Van Zandt County War. Grade(s): 7-8
Amon, Aline. Earth Is Sore: Native Americans on Nature, The. Grade(s): K-6
Ancona, George. Bananas: From Manolo to Margie. Grade(s): 3-5
Ancona, George. Dancing Is. Grade(s): 2-4
Andersen, Hans Christian. Almendrita (Thumbelina). Grade(s): 4-6
Andersen, Hans Christian. Emperor's New Clothes, The. Grade(s): 4-8
Andersen, Hans Christian. Nightingale, The. Grade(s): 4-8
Andersen, Hans Christian. Red Shoes, The. Grade(s): K-6
Andersen, Hans Christian. Snow Queen, The. Grade(s): 7-8
Andersen, Hans Christian. Steadfast Tin Soldier, The. Grade(s): 3-5
Andersen, Hans Christian. Thumbelina. Grade(s): 3-5
Andersen, Hans Christian. Ugly Duckling, The. Grade(s): 2-5
Anno, Mitsumasa. Anno's Alphabet: An Adventure in Imagination. Grade(s): K-3
Anno, Mitsumasa. Anno's Counting Book. Grade(s): K-3
Anno, Mitsumasa. Anno's Counting House. Grade(s): K-3
Anonymous. El gentil dragón rojo. Grade(s): 4-6
Anonymous. Grandfather's Stories-Philippines. Grade(s): K-3
Aquilera, Carmen. Citlalli y las estrellas. Grade(s): 4-6
Armijo, Carmen. Bam, bim, bom (arriba el telón). Grade(s): K-3
Armijo, Consuelo. Mone. Grade(s): K-3
Arnold, Caroline. Five Nests. Grade(s): 2-4
Arnosky, Jim. Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher. Grade(s): 3-6
Aruego, José. Look What I Can Do. Grade(s): K-3
Aruego, José, and Ariane Dewey. We Hide, You Seek. Grade(s): K-2
Asbjornsen, Peter Christian, and Jorgen E. Moe. East of the Sun and West of the Moon and Other Tales. Grade(s): 4-6
Asbjornsen, Peter Christian, and Jorgen E. Moe. Man Who Kept House, The. Grade(s): K-3
Asimov, Isaac (Editor). Sherlock Holmes Through Time and Space. Grade(s): 7-8
Atkinson, Mary. Maria Teresa. Grade(s): 3-6
Babbitt, Natalie. Tuck Everlasting. Grade(s): 5-8
Bacon, Martha. Sophia Scrooby Preserved. Grade(s): 6-8
Baker, Olaf. Where the Buffaloes Begin. Grade(s): 5-6
Ballesta, Juan. Tommy y el elefante. Grade(s): K-3
Balzac, Honore de. Passion in the Desert. Grade(s): 7-8
Balzola, Ana. El camisón bordado. Grade(s): K-3
Bang, Molly G. Ten, Nine, Eight. Grade(s): K-1
Banks, Lynne R. Indian in the Cupboard, The. Grade(s): 6-9
Barnard, Jacqueline. Voices from the Southwest: Antonio Jose Martinez, Elfego Baca, and Reies Lopez Tijerina. Grade(s): 4-6
Barrie, James M. Peter Pan. Grade(s): 5-8
Barton, Byron. Airport. Grade(s): 1-3
Bate, Lucy. Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth. Grade(s): K-2
Baum, L. Frank. Wizard of Oz, The. Grade(s): 4-6
Baum, Willi. La expedición. Grade(s): K-3
Bawden, Nina. William Tell. Grade(s): 5-6
Bayley, Nicola. Canciones tontas. Grade(s): K-3
Baylor, Byrd. And It Is Still That Way. Grade(s): 1-4
Baylor, Byrd. Desert Is Theirs, The. Grade(s): K-3
Baylor, Byrd. Hawk, I'm Your Brother. Grade(s): K-3
Baylor, Byrd. They Put on Masks. Grade(s): K-5
Baylor, Byrd. Way to Start a Day, The. Grade(s): 2-6
Baylor, Byrd. When Clay Sings. Grade(s): K-5
Beatty, Patricia. Lupita Mañana. Grade(s): 5-7
Beatty, Patricia. Wait for Me, Watch for Me, Eula Bee. Grade(s): 5-6
Behn, Harry (Translator). More Cricket Songs: Japanese Haiku. Grade(s): 3-6
Behrens, June. Feast of Thanksgiving. Grade(s): K-6
Bell, Clare. Ratha's Creature. Grade(s): 7-8
Belting, Natalia. Whirlwind Is a Ghost Dancing. Grade(s): 5-9
Bemmelmans, Ludwig. Madeline. Grade(s): K-3
Benchley, Nathaniel. George the Drummer Boy. Grade(s): 3-5
Benchley, Nathaniel. Oscar Otter. Grade(s): 1-3
Benchley, Nathaniel. Sam the Minuteman. Grade(s): 4-5
Benet, Rosemary, and Stephen Benet. Book of Americans, A. Grade(s): 3-6
Benet, Stephen, and Rosemary Benet. America Is Not All Traffic Lights. Grade(s): 3-6
Bennett, Jack. Voyage of the Lucky Dragon. Grade(s): 7-8
Bennett, Rowena. Creative Plays and Programs for Holidays. Grade(s): K-6
Bernstein, Margery, and Janet Kobrin. Coyote Goes Hunting for Fire: A California Indian Myth. Grade(s): K-3
Bertol, Roland. Charles Drew. Grade(s): 4-6
Bierhorst, John (Editor). Girl Who Married a Ghost and Other Tales from the North American Indian, The. Grade(s): 5-9
Bierhorst, John (Editor). In the Trail of the Wind: American Indian Poems and Ritual Orations. Grade(s): 5-6
Bierhorst, John (Editor). Ring in the Prairie. Grade(s): 4-6
Blair, Walter. Tall Tale America. Grade(s): 4-6
Blishen, Edward (Editor). Oxford Book of Poetry for Children. Grade(s): 6-8
Bodecker, N. M. Hurry, Hurry Mary Dear! And Other Nonsense. Grade(s): 2-5
Bodecker, N. M. Let's Marry Said the Cherry. Grade(s): 2-5
Boiko, Claire. Children's Plays for Creative Actors. Grade(s): K-6
Bolognese, Don. New Day, A. Grade(s): 2-4
Bond, Michael. Bear Called Paddington, A. Grade(s): 4-6
Bonsall, Crosby N. Case of the Cat's Meow, The. Grade(s): 1-3
Bourne, Miriam A. Emilio's Summer Day. Grade(s): 2-4
Bowman, James C. Pecos Bill. Grade(s): 7-8
Bradbury, Ray. Dandelion Wine. Grade(s): 7-8
Bravo-Villansante, Carmen. Adivina, adivinanza. Grade(s): K-3
Brenner, Barbara. On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon. Grade(s): 5-8
Brenner, Barbara. Snake-Lover's Diary, A. Grade(s): 4-6
Brenner, Barbara. Wagon Wheels. Grade(s): 2-5
Brewton, Sara (Compiler). My Tang's Tungled and Other Ridiculous Situations. Grade(s): 2-6
Brewton, Sara, and John Brewton (Editors). America Forever New: A Book of Poems. Grade(s): 2-6
Briggs, Raymond. Jim and the Beanstalk. Grade(s): 3-5
Briggs, Raymond. Snowman, The. Grade(s): K-3
Briggs, Raymond (Editor/Illustrator). Mother Goose Treasury, The. Grade(s): K-4
Brink, Carol R. Caddie Woodlawn. Grade(s): 4-6
Broger, Achim, and Gisela Kalow. Buenos días, querida ballena. Grade(s): K-3
Brookes, Polly. Queen Eleanor: Independent Spirit of the Medieval World. Grade(s): 7-8
Brooks, Bruce. Moves Make the Man, The. Grade(s): 7-8
Brooks, Gwendolyn. Bronzeville Boys and Girls. Grade(s): 2-6
Brown, Marcia. All Butterflies: An ABC. Grade(s): K-2
Brown, Marcia. Once a Mouse. Grade(s): 1-4
Brown, Marcia. Stone Soup. Grade(s): 1-4
Brown, Marcia, and Charles Perrault. Cinderella. Grade(s): 1-4
Brown, Margaret W. Fox Eyes. Grade(s): K-3
Brown, Margaret W. Runaway Bunny. Grade(s): K-3
Bryan, Ashley. Beat the Story-Drum, Purn-Purn. Grade(s): 5-6
Bryant, Sara Cone. Burning Rice Fields, The. Grade(s): 3-6
Buck, Pearl S. Big Wave, The. Grade(s): 7-8
Bulla, Clyde Robert. Riding the Pony Express. Grade(s): 4-5
Bulla, Clyde Robert. Shoeshine Girl. Grade(s): 3-5
Bunting, Eve. Happy Funeral, The. Grade(s): 5-6
Bunting, Eve. Someone Is Hiding on Alcatraz Island. Grade(s): 5-6
Burack, A. S. (Editor). One Hundred Plays for Children. Grade(s): K-6
Burch, Robert. Queenie Peavy. Grade(s): 5-6
Burchard, Peter. Bimby. Grade(s): 5-6
Burnett, Frances H. Secret Garden, The. Grade(s): 4-6
Burnford, Sheila. Incredible Journey, The. Grade(s): 7-8
Burningham, John. Harquin. Grade(s): 4-6
Burningham, John. Mr. Gumpy's Outing. Grade(s): K-2
Burningham, John. Trubloff, el ratón que quería tocar la balalaika. Grade(s): 4-6
Burton, Virginia L. Katy and the Big Snow. Grade(s): 1-3
Burton, Virginia L. Little House, The. Grade(s): K-2
Burton, Virginia L. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. Grade(s): K-2
Butterworth, Emma M. As the Waltz Was Ending. Grade(s): 7-8
Butterworth, Oliver. Enormous Egg, The. Grade(s): 4-6
Byars, Betsy C. Midnight Fox. Grade(s): 4-6
Byars, Betsy C. Summer of the Swans, The. Grade(s): 5-8
Byars, Betsy C. Trouble River. Grade(s): 5-8
Caballero, Fernán. El pájaro de la verdad y otros cuentos. Grade(s): 4-6
Cameron, Eleanor. Court of the Stone Children, The. Grade(s): 5-6
Cameron, Eleanor. Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet, The. Grade(s): 3-5
Canal, Ramirez G., and German Ramos. El robo de las aves. Grade(s): 4-6
Cardenas, Magolo. Celestino y el tren. Grade(s): 4-6
Carle, Eric. Do You Want to Be My Friend? Grade(s): K-2
Carle, Eric. One, Two, Three, to the Zoo. Grade(s): K-2
Carle, Eric. Very Busy Spider, The. Grade(s): K-2
Carle, Eric. Very Hungry Caterpillar, The. Grade(s): K-2
Carpenter, Frances. Tales of a Korean Grandmother. Grade(s): K-2
Cassedy, Mary. Wall in the Attic, The. Grade(s): 5-6
Charlip, Remy, and Mary Beth. Handtalk: An ABC of Finger Spelling and Sign Language. Grade(s): 2-6
Chase, Richard. Jack Tales, The. Grade(s): 4-8
Cheatham, Val R. Skits and Spoofs for Young Actors. Grade(s): K-6
Chenery, Janet. Toad Hunt, The. Grade(s): 1-3
Childress, Alice. When the Rattlesnake Sounds: A Play About Harriet Tubman. Grade(s): K-8
Ching, Annie. Birthday Party (and Other Tales). Grade(s): K-6
Chorpenning, Charlotte B. Alice in Wonderland. Grade(s): K-6
Chorpenning, Charlotte B. Hansel and Gretel. Grade(s): K-6
Chorpenning, Charlotte B. Rip Van Winkle. Grade(s): K-6
Christie, Agatha. Selected novels. Grade(s): 7-8
Christopher, John. City of Gold and Lead, The. Grade(s): 5-8
Christopher, John. Pool of Fire, The. Grade(s): 6-8
Christopher, John. White Mountains, The. Grade(s): 7-8
Ciardi, John. You Read to Me, I'll Read to You. Grade(s): 1-3
Clapp, Patricia. I'm Deborah Sampson: A Soldier in the War of the Revolution. Grade(s): 5-6
Claret, Maria. La ratita blasa. Grade(s): K-3
Clark, Ann Nolan. Along Sandy Trails. Grade(s): K-3
Clark, Ann Nolan. Raco's Miracle. Grade(s): 4-6
Clark, Ann Nolan. Year Walk. Grade(s): 2-4
Clayton, Edward. Martin Luther King: The Peaceful Warrior. Grade(s): 4-6
Cleary, Beverly. Dear Mr. Henshaw. Grade(s): 5-6
Cleary, Beverly. Henry and Beezus. Grade(s): 3-5
Cleary, Beverly. Mouse and the Motorcycle, The. Grade(s): 4-5
Cleary, Beverly. Ramona and Her Father. Grade(s): 3-5
Cleary, Beverly. Ramona the Pest. Grade(s): 3-5
Cleaver, Vera, and Bill Cleaver. Lady Ellen Grae. Grade(s): 5-6
Cleaver, Vera, and Bill Cleaver. Queen of Hearts. Grade(s): 6-8
Cleaver, Vera, and Bill Cleaver. Where the Lilies Bloom. Grade(s): 7-8
Clifton, Lucille. Amifika. Grade(s): 1-3
Clifton, Lucille. Everett Anderson's Nine Month Long. Grade(s): K-2
Clifton, Lucille. Some of the Days of Everett Anderson (and other titles). Grade(s): K-2, 4-6
Cobb, Vicki, and Kathy Darling. Bet You Can't! Science Impossibilities to Fool You. Grade(s): 2-4
Cobum, Jewell R. Encircled Kingdom: Legends and Folktales of Laos. Grade(s): 4-6
Coerr, Eleanor B. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Grade(s): 4-8
Cohen, Barbara. Thank You, Jackie Robinson. Grade(s): 4-6
Cohen, Miriam. Starring First Grade. Grade(s): K-1
Cohen, Miriam. Will I Have a Friend? Grade(s): K-1
Cole, William. Beastly Boys and Ghastly Girls. Grade(s): 5-6
Cole, William. Birds and the Beasts Were There, The. Grade(s): K-3
Cole, William. Book of Animal Poems, A. Grade(s): 2-6
Cole, William (Editor). Poem Stew. Grade(s): 5-6
Collier, James L., and Christopher Collier. My Brother Sam Is Dead. Grade(s): 7-8
Connell, Richard. Most Dangerous Game, The. Grade(s): 7-8
Cooke, John (Photographer). Butterfly Cycle, The. Grade(s): 3-4
Cooney, Barbara. Miss Rumphius. Grade(s): K-3
Cooper, Susan. Greenwitch. Grade(s): 6-8
Cooper, Susan. Grey King, The. Grade(s): 6-8
Courlander, Harold. Crest and the Hide and Other African Stories, The. Grade(s): 4-6
Courlander, Harold, and George Herzog. Cow-tail Switch and Other West African Stories, The. Grade(s): 5-6
Coutant, Helen. First Snow. Grade(s): 1-3
Coville, Bruce, and Katherine Coville. Sarah's Unicorn. Grade(s): 1-3
Craven, Margaret. I Heard the Owl Call My Name. Grade(s): 7-9
Crews, Donald. Freight Train. Grade(s): K-1
Cross, Gillian. On the Edge. Grade(s): 7-8
Cunningham, Julia. Dorp Dead. Grade(s): 4-8
Daguio. Wedding Dance, The. Grade(s): 7-8
Dahl, Roald. James and the Giant Peach. Grade(s): 4-6
Dalgliesh, Alice. Courage of Sarah Noble, The. Grade(s): 2-4
Darling, Kathy. Pecos Bill Finds a Horse. Grade(s): 7-8
Daugherty, James. Andy and the Lion. Grade(s): 2-5
D'Aulaire, Ingri, and Edgar P. D'Aulaire. Columbus. Grade(s): 3-6
D'Aulaire, Ingri, and Edgar P. D'Aulaire. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths. Grade(s): 4-6
D'Aulaire, Ingri, and Edgar P. D'Aulaire. D'Aulaires' Trolls. Grade(s): 4-6
D'Aulaire, Ingri, and Edgar P. D'Aulaire. Norse Gods and Giants. Grade(s): 3-5
Davis, Daniel S. Behind Barbed Wire. Grade(s): 4-6
Davis, Ossie. Escape to Freedom: A Play About Young Frederick Douglass. Grade(s): K-6
Dayrell, Elphinstone. Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky. Grade(s): 1-5
De Angeli, Marguerite. Marguerite de Angeli's Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes. Grade(s): K-2
De Brunhoff, Jean. Story of Babar, The. Grade(s): 1-3
De Brunhoff, Jean, and Laurent De Brunhoff. Babar's Anniversary Album. Grade(s): 1-3
De Garza, Patricia. Chicanos: The Story of Mexican-Americans. Grade(s): 4-7
de Gerez, Toni (Translator). My Song Is a Piece of Jade: Poems of Ancient Mexico in English and Spanish. Grade(s): 3-6
De La Vara, Armida. El tronaviaje. Grade(s): 4-6
De Maupassant, Guy. Necklace, The. Grade(s): 7-8
De Pauw, Linda G. Founding Mothers: Women of America in the Revolutionary Era. Grade(s): 3-5
De Pauw, Linda G. Seafaring Women. Grade(s): 3-6
De Regniers, Beatrice S. May I Bring a Friend. Grade(s): K-2
De Saint-Exupery, Antonie. Little Prince, The. Grade(s): 2-5
De Trevino, Elizabeth B. I, Juan de Pareja. Grade(s): 7-8
Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. Grade(s): 7-8
DeJong, Meindert. House of Sixty Fathers. Grade(s): 6